15 Facts About Tzedakah Every Jew Should Know

1. Tzedakah Means Righteousness

The Hebrew word for charity is tzedakah, which actually means “justice” or “righteousness.” There is an important nuance here. In Jewish
thought, giving to people in need is not something extra; it’s just the
correct, honest thing to do. Our money is not ours. It belongs to G‑d, who has
graciously entrusted it to us. It is only right for us to distribute it as He
wishes, sharing it with His needy children.

2. The Pushke (Charity Box) Is the Hallmark of the Jewish Home

In the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, there was a designated
chamber (called lishkat chasha-in,
“the chamber of the discrete ones”) where people could deposit money earmarked
for the poor. Those who had fallen on hard times were able to come there and
receive sustenance in a respectable manner.1
In recent centuries, that tradition lives on in the tzedakah boxes (pushkes
in Yiddish) that grace Jewish homes everywhere.

3. Tzedakah Can Be Goods or Services

Low on cash? Cook a meal for an elderly neighbor, visit someone who is
ill, or volunteer at your kid’s school. The sages teach us that even a poor person who subsists on
the charity of others should perform acts of charity.2 Each of us has something to contribute to others: time, expertise, attention, or even a simple smile.

4. Give in Concentric Circles

Give tzedakah to the
needy, Torah schools, Jewish institutions, and humanitarian causes. The
Code of Jewish Law provides some guidelines to determine where to give first. A family member who is
in difficult financial straits takes precedence over non-family. Likewise,
local poor and charitable organizations take precedence over their faraway
counterparts. And charitable causes in Israel take precedence over
non-local charities in the Diaspora.3

5. Tzedakah for Israel Is Special

Supporting the poor of the Holy Land has a long and proud
history. Since at least the 16th century, the Jewish
communities in the Holy Land have sent messengers to collect funds from their
brethren in the Diaspora. These messengers were often wise rabbis who were
learned in Torah but also possessed the resourcefulness necessary to remain
safe on the long and treacherous journeys abroad.

Chabad has been raising funds for the Jews of the Holy Land since
1788, making Colel Chabad the oldest continuously operating tzedakah network in Israel. Monies
collected for the poor of Israel are often associated with Rabbi Meir Baal
Haness.

6. Charity Saves From Death

Charity is so potent that it can save a person from death.
The Talmud illustrates this with the story of a reedcutter who was destined to
die by snakebite but survived in the merit of bread he surreptitiously shared
with a poor coworker.4

7. Give Tzedakah Before Prayer

It is
customary to give charity before praying. This is based on the Talmudic
teaching: “The ways of G‑d are not like the ways of mortals. How is it among humans? If a man
brings a gift to a king, it may be accepted or it may not be accepted. Even if
it is accepted, it is still doubtful whether or not he will be admitted into
the presence of the king. Not so with G‑d. If a person gives even a small coin
to a beggar, he is deemed worthy to receive the Divine Presence, as it is
written, ‘I shall behold thy face in tzedek [charity].’”
Accordingly, says the Talmud, Rabbi Eleazar used to give a coin to a poor man immediately
prior to praying.5

8. Give Tzedakah Before Lighting Candles

Just before women and girls light candles on Friday
afternoon to usher in the Shabbat, it is customary to give charity. Since no
charity can be given on Shabbat day (when money is not handled), an extra sum
is given beforehand.

9. People Like to Give in Multiples of 18

A chai pendant worn by a woman.

When donating charity, Jews often choose to give in
multiples of 18, such as 36, 54, 72 etc. This is because chai (חי), the Hebrew word for
life, has the numerical value of 18. So $180, for example, is called “10
times chai.” This expresses our
prayer that the merit of the charity stand in our good stead, and that we be
blessed with life and prosperity.

10. You Can Make Deals With G‑d

While it is preferable to give charity “just because,” the
sages say that one who donates in the merit that their child live is still
considered perfectly righteous.6

Furthermore, G‑d assures us that through donating 10% of our
earnings to charity we will prosper, and even invites us to try Him out. In the words of the prophet Malachi, “Bring the whole
tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My
house. Test Me in this,” says G‑d, “and see if
I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much
blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”7

11. Maimonides Identified Eight Levels of Charity

Maimonides lists eight levels of giving charity.8 The
loftiest is one who extends a loan, allowing the recipient to honorably support
themselves with their dignity intact. The lowest is one who gives unwillingly.

12. Ten (or Twenty) Percent Is Best

In Temple Times, every Jewish farmer gave 10% of his produce
to the Levite. A second 10% was sometimes taken to Jerusalem as a tribute to
G‑d and at other times distributed to the poor, depending on the year. There
were also smaller amounts given to the Kohanim (priests).

Accordingly, the sages determined that it is proper to give
10% of our earnings to charity. Those who are able should strive to give 20%.
This is known as maser, “a tenth,”
and chomesh, “a fifth.”9

13. Food Is Better Than Cash

Reflecting the traditional division of duties, the Talmud
brings the assertion of the wife of Mar Ukva that a woman’s charity is greater
than that of her husband. While he can only give money (with which food and
other necessities can be purchased), the woman is in the position to give a
ready-to-eat meal, which can be enjoyed immediately.10
While many contemporary women do not find themselves in the kitchen all day,
the lesson is clear: Make your charity accessible and easy to use, with no
strings attached.

14. Tzedakah Brings the Redemption

“Keep justice and practice tzedakah, for My salvation is near to come, and My benevolence to
be revealed,” says the prophet Isaiah.11 From this, the sages teach
that “great is tzedakah for it brings the redemption.”12

15. Tzedakah Is Easy

Tzedakah
is an easy mitzvah that requires no prior experience. Just pull out your
wallet, credit card, checkbook, or smartphone, and direct some funds to a
charitable cause. We’re happy if you give to any worthy organization or
individual, but we will (humbly) point out that Chabad.org brings millions of
people authentic Jewish teachings, inspiration, and information—including this
very page. All of this is free of charge, and we would be so very honored if
you choose to make Chabad.org one of your tzedakah destinations.

Rabbi Menachem Posner serves as staff editor at Chabad.org, the world’s largest Jewish informational website. He has been writing, researching, and editing for Chabad.org since 2006, when he received his rabbinic degree from Central Yeshiva Tomchei Temimin Lubavitch. He resides in Chicago, Ill., with his family.

Amen. Maybe the giving is for us? It feels like I am being stretched and my soul challenged.Have prayed for G-d to lead me to "worthy" people to give to...but none of us are worthy. And I find it is not the people we give to that give back to us. Maybe G-d uses others to bless the seeds of our giving? Helping others in need is a good feeling, it feels like I am expressing my love to G-d.
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Rabbi Z.USANovember 25, 2018

Two More Tips
May I add

a. The Rebbe teaches that the world is made in such a way that we are enabled to create connections - hence, when we seek those who need help (as mentioned above) whether it is monetary, advice etc., we are in fact creating (otherwise unavailable) friendships.

Secondly, as the Rebbe stressed many times - including in his last public address - not only are we encouraged to give 10 20 % (when affordable ) but furthermore, we should quite simply see the only reason we have money, is to give.
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